Express Yourself!

"When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed."— Maya Angelou

A family-friendly Thanksgiving program with host Kirpa and her cousins Milan and Jatin as they celebrate gratitude, food, music, travel, and joy. Thanksgiving is a time of connection, a time to apologize, and forgive. Kirpa advises that life doesn't need to be perfect to be beautiful — and that's the heartbeat of Thanksgiving. Have gratitude for the sunshine and the rain and even the rainbows that follow. Milan talks about being kind. Jatin shares his music appreciation. All three encourage being grateful for the little things. We wish you a very happy Thanksgiving and we are thankful for you. Be blessed.

Bio: Jatin, Express Yourself! Teen Radio's newest reporter is a junior in high school with an amazing sense of humor. He loves music, and he has been playing drums for many years and is part of a rock band. He loves science and working out! He is looking forward to being a part of teen radio with his cousin, Kirpa, and brother Milan.

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"If we are to preserve culture, we must continue to create it." by Johan Huizinga

Culture is not only about connecting the past to the present, but it is also a way we form our identity; it is a part of the puzzle in our lives. Host Julia and reporter Milan discuss the importance of studying culture and keeping one's heritage and culture alive. Milan talks about how culture forms our identity and shares how teens can illustrate the importance of traditions through events, social media, writing, and more. Julia shares information on the Chinese Opera Program she founded. Jing Shao Nian is a youth-led Chinese opera program that teaches students the foundations of Cantonese and Peking Opera through weekly rehearsals, vocal training, movement workshops, and cultural history lessons. Through the program, students gain confidence in using Mandarin or Cantonese, develop a stronger sense of identity, and build public speaking and performance skills. Julia then interviews a student leader of Jing Shao Nian, Samantha, who talks about how her relationship with Asian culture transformed after joining the group. She describes a typical performance and the effects it has had on the participants and the audiences. Embracing our cultures enhances our lives. Communities are connected through culture.

Visit the Jing Shao Nian website (with lots of photos): https://www.jingshaonian.org/

Read the newsletter on a Cultural Thanksgiving: https://cynthiabrian.substack.com/p/a-cultural-thanksgiving?

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" The future belongs to those who prepare for it today." - Malcolm X

Although college applications can be stressful, there are small steps to take to make the process feel less overwhelming! Host Diya walks you through actions that will help you fill out successful applications to colleges that will be best suited to your life preferences. Stay organized and start early. Put all your extracurriculars, deadlines for essays, and application fees on spreadsheets and checklists. Research colleges that best fit your personality and interests. Do you want urban, suburban, or rural area? What about going to a small, medium, or large university? Diya advises taking small baby steps every day to make your life easier!

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On August 5th, 2012, when Express Yourself!™ teen, was a toddler, he, his brother, and his mother stopped for three minutes at a gas station on their way to their Sikh temple. Those three minutes saved their lives as a gunman began a mass shooting. Today, host Kirpa and reporter Milan discuss gun control and what teens think about it. There are an estimated 400 million to 500 million civilian-owned firearms in the United States, with some estimates putting the number at around 1.5 firearms per person. This means there are more guns in the USA than people. Kirpa indicates that for many teens, gun violence isn't just something they see on the news. It's something that's shaped the way they grow up. Surveys show that nearly 70 percent of teens support stronger gun laws. Milan shares the mass shooting story and also provides the language of the 2nd Amendment. He believes that the crime rate and mass shootings would be reduced by limiting guns and increasing controls. Guns kill. Teens want restrictions to stay safe.

This generation of teen is growing up in a storm, but they're learning to build umbrellas out of their courage. They're not waiting for permission to speak — they already are. Maybe it's time we start listening.

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"I've learned you are never too small to make a difference." Greta Thunberg

With college deadlines looming and pressure mounting, this week's broadcast turns inward, toward the grit it takes to be a teenager in a world obsessed with perfection. Host Julia opens the show with a commentary on the myth of effortless success, breaking down how real grit isn't gold stars or motivational quotes, it's bombing a test and still showing up. She explores the emotional grit behind staying in friendships, choosing honesty over silence, and knowing when to quit without giving up on yourself. In the second segment, Julia zooms in on what it means to be the youngest in the room, at meetings, on boards, in spaces where adults run the show. She unpacks the labor of being taken seriously: the double standards, the polite dismissal, the subtle performances of "maturity." Julia offers tools for power, how to hold your voice, speak with clarity, and not let the silence erase your presence.

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"I know nothing of man's rights, or woman's rights; human rights are all that I recognize." Sarah Moore Grimke

With global conflict rising, human rights violations demand attention, especially abuses against women and girls. Host Julia begins the broadcast with an investigation of "The Myth of the Perfect Victim". She asks, "Why do we know Gabby Petito's name, but not Kaysera Stops Pretty Places, a 17-year-old Indigenous girl who went missing the same year? Who gets a multi-episode special, and who gets a paragraph at the bottom of a local news site?" The "Missing White Woman Syndrome" describes how the media overwhelmingly covers cases of young, white, conventionally attractive women while overlooking missing Black, Latina, Indigenous, and trans girls. If equality means anything, it means that every girl, every person, every background, every zip code, deserves to be searched for, fought for, and remembered.

Julia then interviews Valentina Casas-Sayek, who provides historical examples showing how nations either failed to act or courageously opposed injustices. Women face unique abuses that limit their societal participation, educational access, healthcare, and bodily autonomy, affecting global progress. She talks about the Stolen Babies of Spain in the Franco era and looks at how different societies handle violence against women. Understanding why some communities take action on women's rights while others stay silent gives us key insights for creating fairer societies and preventing future harm worldwide. Women's rights are human rights.

Bio: Valentina Casas-Sayek is a high school senior from Dallas, Texas, who is passionate about history and human rights. She has conducted research, written articles, presented her work at national symposiums, and created a podcast, Untold History, focusing on hidden parts of history. Valentina is also involved in her school community as an Honor Council member and a member of the lacrosse and field hockey teams. In her spare time, Valentina enjoys spending time with her friends and family.

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"Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are." – Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Host Julia and reporter Hanna tackle the topic that we chew on every day: ultra-processed foods. Hanna asks if it is ethical to sell food that is unhealthy just to maximize profits at the expense of our long-term well-being. What is the price of health? Whose responsibility is it? What is the future of food? Julia talks about food dyes and artificial flavors that are engineered to cling to whatever is touched, causing you to crave more. Color = emotion. Studies show that red triggers excitement and appetite. Yellow suggests energy and fun. Food companies know these colors get your brain buzzing. Teens are wired to seek novelty and risk. Studies in neuroscience show that the teenage brain's reward system is hypersensitive, especially to intense flavors and sensations. What are you eating?

They have hope, courage, and are making noise!

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"Climate change is the most severe problem that we are facing today, more serious even than the threat of terrorism." - Anonymous

The answer is YES! Host Keerthi starts off the show with this message: "We are concerned. You know why? Because we live here! You can't just order a new planet from Amazon Prime." The concern is real. Studies show that over 70% of teens say climate change makes them anxious. Teens are creative, resourceful, and a little desperate—an excellent combination when it comes to change. Keerthi interviews the newest reporter, Hanna, who recognizes the injustice of the world teens are inheriting. Young people see that previous generations lived with fewer limits and more consumption, while ours will inherit the bill. And that sparks outrage, but also responsibility. Hanna shares how teens are turning worry into productivity with youth activism. They have hope, courage, and are making noise!

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"Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person."— Mother Teresa

In today's episode, host Julia with new reporter Hanna talk about what concerns teens the most…mental health, the climate crisis, waste, eco-anxiety, and more. Julia dives into "doomism", doom-scrolling, and advocates for her generation that has lived through "historic" tragedies: terrorism, endless wars, "orange alert" paranoia, the 2008 financial crash, the pandemic, cost-of-living crises, natural disasters, and the climate emergency. Studies show empathy levels plummeted after 2000, but this generation of youth is pushing for political accountability. She believes that cynicism doesn't have to mean paralysis. Julia introduces our new reporter on Express Yourself Teen radio, Hanna.

Hanna's segment is called Political Philosophy, and in today's broadcast, she discusses upcycling, donating, and even selling secondhand. These aren't just eco-friendly actions, they're ways of living out our responsibility to others and to the future. Studies show that over 50% of young people say climate change makes them very worried, and almost half say it impacts their daily lives. Upcycling means taking something old or "useless" and transforming it into something new, valuable, or beautiful. Unlike recycling, it doesn't require breaking things down—it just reimagines them.

The U.S. generates 292 million tons of trash every year. The fashion industry alone creates 92 million tons of textile waste. Making a single cotton t-shirt takes 700 gallons of water.

Every time you upcycle—or even keep something in circulation instead of tossing it—you're saving resources and reducing harm. Hanna offers ways to make a difference.

In the final segment, Julia and Hanna engage in a conversation about moral obligations to to future generations, questions about justice, fairness, and responsibility to others globally, ways to live sustainably, and ethical responses to big problems like climate change.

Teens care about everything! Have hope!

Bio: Hanna Yu is a high school senior from the Bay Area who is passionate about political philosophy. She has conducted research with university professors, written articles, and presented her work at national symposiums. Hanna is also a dancer, debater, and sculptor, whose work brings together art and political thought. In her spare time, Hanna pursues her passion for sustainable fashion by leading closet swaps and secondhand clothing sales.

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"Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars." Norman Vincent Peale

Host Saanvi Phaneendra take you on a journey into the world of rockets, space, and the story of her nonprofit, Galactic Getaway. Her Eagle Scout project turned into a mission: bringing museum-quality rocket exhibits into libraries and universities across the San Francisco Bay Area to inspire kids, teens, and adults about the future of space exploration. Over the next half hour, she shares the vision behind Galactic Getaway, the rockets she chose, how she researched and curated their specifications, where the exhibit has traveled, the impact it has made, and where she hopes to take it in the future. To learn more about the project or how to bring the exhibit to your community, visit galacticget.org.

Space exploration is unfolding, and it starts with the curiosity we inspire today. Saanvi's hope is that every child who sees these rockets will believe: 'That could be me someday.'

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